Vehicle signal



May 16, 1933. F.'S. NAWROCKI 1,909,707

vVEHICLE SIGNAL Filed May 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r) INVENTOR.

m2 WW A TTORNEYS.

May 16, 1933. s, NAWROCK! I 1,909,707

VEHICLE SIGNAL I Filed May 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 16, 1933 STATES FRANK S. NAWROCKI, OF NORTH HOLLYWOOD,CALIFORNIA VEHICLE SIGNAL Application filed m 20,

This invention relates to signal means for indicating changes ofdirection in the course of a self-propelled vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide a signal of the characterstated which may readily be attached to various makes of vehicles now onthe market, and which is pro vided with an adjustable operatingconnection so that the variation of position, with reference to thesteering wheel on different makes of cars, will not interfere with theefficient operation of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanicalmovement for the control of a plurality of signal elements so that suchsignal elements may be timed for individual operation in such a mannerthat there will be no confusion between the signals nor failure toactuate the individual signals at the time required.

Although the signal device provided by this invention is primarilyintended to be operated automatically by the steering mechanism of thevehicle yet the construction of the device is such that, if desired, itmay be adapted for manual operation by the driver.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention may hereinafterappear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate what is atpresent deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the attachment looking at the obverse side ofthe face plate.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the attachment looking at the reverse side ofthe face plate,

i the rear wall of the casing being broken away to avoid concealinginterior parts.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line i 1 of Fig. 2.

F ig. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic View illustrating in a general planthe operation of the device.

Referringin detail to the drawings, the frame work of the deviceincludes a transversely extending base plate 7 which is housed within ahemispherical casing 8 the 1932. Serial No. 612,487.

otherwise open side of which casing is closed by the upstanding faceplate 9, except that said base plate is providedwith a sight opening 10,said sight opening defining the signal display field. The base plate 7is of an elongated character the length of said plate extendingtransversely of the vehicle upon which the device is mounted. The endsof said base plate are provided with upwardly directed portions 12which-form the'end plates of the device, said end plates serving tosupport a pair of substantially parallel guide rods 13 and 14 which aremounted in vertically spaced relation to each other. Said guide rodsserve to guide the movements of the signal elements 15 and 16 which areindividually displayable one at a time through the sight opening 10.

Above the sight opening 10 the face plate is shown provided with a glassportion 10a and below said sight opening the face plate is shownprovided with a glass portion 107;. These glass portions 10a and 1072are preferably both made of red glass. 1000 located behind these glassportions serve to illuminate appropriate lettering carried by them. Inthe drawings the word Stop is shown inscribed upon the upper portion 10aand the word Tail is shown inscribed upon the lower glass portion 10?).As the face plate is viewed in Fig. 1, the letters TU are placed uponthe imperforate opaque left hand portion of the face plate and theletters RN areplaced on the corresponding opaque right hand portionthereof, the sight opening 10 being provided with a transparent glasscovering 100. Any well known means'may be provided for holding .theglass portions 10a, 10b and 100 in proper position, and therefore theseportions of the device, though shown in the drawings, are not describedin detail. Likewise the lamps 1000 may be supported in any convenientmanner as by the brackets 103 and the wiring for them arranged in anyconvenient way, an electric cord 102 being shown to supply the current.

Both of the signal elements are shown con-v structed according to thesame pattern, and are each provided with an arrow-shaped in- The lampsdicating portion 17 for displaying through the sight opening, saidarrow-shaped por tion forming one limb of an approximatelyhorseshoe-shaped plate. The neck portion 19 of this plate connects thepart 17 thereof with the other limb 20 of the plate, said limb 20 havingits free end a laterally directed portion Qlhaving therethrough anaperture through which loosely extends Ll lQ rod l l. The base of theneck portion of the horse shoe member whichfhas been described issoldered or otherwse secured to a vertical bar or plate 22. he upper endof said plate 22 is provided with an aperture which loosely receives theupper guide bar 13, and in the lower portion of said plate or bar 22 isan aperture which loosely receives the lower bar 1.4: and which is acompanion to the aperture through the portion 21 already referred to.

Means will next be described for operating, whether manually or from thesteering and running gear of the vehicle, the signal elements 15 and 16.For this purpose there is mounted upon the base plate 7 a guide plate 25of an elongated charact r having at each of its long edges an upwardlyand inwardly directed flange 26, thus providing a runway upon which isslidably mounted an operating plate 27. Said guide plate is pivotallymounted between its 6I1ClS -piil 8l'- ably somewhere near mid-length,upon pintle 28 which is supported. by upwardly directed ears 25a withwhich the base plate is provided.

The operating plate 27 is provided with a pair of cam slots 30 and 31which are cut therethrough and which in a general way extend lengthwiseof the plate. The slot 31 has a straight longitudinally extending leftend portion as viewed in Fig. land at its other extremity said slot isprovided with an outwardly directed portion 31?). Correspondingly theslot 30 is provided with a straight longitudinally extendi rig its atend. portion m and at its other extremity has an outwardly deflectedportion 30?).

Part of the longitudinally extending portions 30:; and 31a of the slotsof the operating plate extend alongside of each other in order that thetwo signal elements which are operated by these slots may ordinarilyboth be maintained in neutr l or inoperative positions, that is to saythere will be a neutral zone provided wherein the steeriizg wheel andfront wheels of the vehicle may be deflected to a limited extent withoutoperating the signal device to indicate a turn.

The operating plate 27 is slidably sup ported upon the guide plate 25 toreciprocate therealong, an operating rod 34: beingsecured to themid-width oi. the end portion oi said operating plate, said guide platebe ing provided at its outer end with an upwardly directed portion 37having therethrough an aperture through which slidably extends saidoperating rod.

As shown in Fig. 2 the convex portion oi the casing is provided with asegmenta: slotted extension l0 through. which exte ds the operating rod84, a guiding tube all being provided for said rod to prevent bucklingthereof during operation of the signals. In Fig. 2 the guiding tube i1is eilOWll lo cated near the upper portion of the slotted extension 40,but it is to be understood that in practice it may be located at a lowerpoint along said slotted extensioin iii the design oi the vehicle makesa dillerent adj ustment necessary.

As shown in. Fig. 5 the operating rod 34 is at its front end pivotallyconnected with the crank 41% which in turn is in fixed relation to theusual means for steering he front wheels 411w. The steering mechanism,through the rod 84:, controls and operates the signaling mechanism whichhas previously been described.

The operating plate 27 is operatively con nected with the signalelements means of two operating levers 50 and 51, which are swinginglymounted below the base plate 7. Each 01" said levers is pivotallyattached to said plate '7 at r the pivotal mounting 52 whic" is locatedno: r the 2* end of each lover. The forward end of lever 50 extendsloosely through. a short slot 20;; in the lower ear 20a of the signalelement l6, and other lever i1 is likewise at its forward end extendedloosely through a like slot 208 in the lower car 200; of the othersignal element l.5. The slots through which the portions of these leversextend are sulliciently long to permit a tree swinging movement from thepositions in dieated in dotted lines in Fig. l to like positions at theopposite side of the mid-wii'lth of said figure.

At their other ends slightly beyond. the r pivotal mountings each leveris provided with an upwardly directed curved extension 510, theseextensions "espectively projecting upwardly through the slots30 and 31of the operating plate 27. The signal elements and operating rods andthe slotted operating plate are thus related to each other in such amanner that one of the signal ele ments is projected into thesight opfrom one end thereof while he other signal element remains stationary ouside said sight opening, and the other signal element can not beprojected into the sight opening until the first mentioned element hasbeen withdrawn therefrom. Means ar therefore provided for singlyprojecting the signal elements into the sight opening, it sing possiblefor only one of said elements to occupy the sight opening at a time.

The upwardly directed extensions 51a of the levers 50 and 51 are eachcurved along led lilo

an arc concentric with the pintle or pivot pin 2-8 in order that theswinging adjustments of the guide plate about said pivot may not haveany operative effect upon the means for varying the position of thesignal elements which are displayed through the sight opening of theface plate.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the signal ele ment 16 has the letter Lmounted thereupon for display in the sight opening, and the signalelement 15 has the letter R mounted thereon for display through thesight opening. It is to be understood that the complete word Right couldbe substituted for the letter R to indicate a right hand turn or thecomplete word Left could be substituted for the letter L to indicate aleft hand turn, but the letters L and R are shown as the preferred meansfor indicating right and left hand turns. The letters TU and RN in thesides of the sight opening are of course arranged so that they spell theword Turn when viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle signal, a frame defining a signal display field, aplurality of signal elements individually movable into said field todisplay a signal, an operating plate having cam slots therethrough,means for actuating said plate, and operating means for said signals,said opera-ting means having portions engaging said slots.

2. In a signaling device for vehicles, an upstanding plate having asight aperture therethrough, a frame to support said plate, a pluralityof signal elements mounted upon said frame and individually displayablethrough said opening, guides for said signal elements along which theytravel to and from signaling position, levers pivoted between theirends, said levers having their end portions at one side of saidpivotsoperatively connected with said signal elements, an operatingplate having cam slots therethrough with which the other end portions ofsaid levers are operatively connected, means to slidably mount saidguide plate upon said frame, and means to slide said guide plate uponits said mounting to actuate the signals, the slots in said guide platebeing constructed and arranged to bring said signal elements selectivelyand one at a time into view Within said sight opening.

3. A signal operating device comprising a support, signal elementsmounted. thereon, a guide member of an elongated character pivot-allymounted between its ends upon said support, an operating plate havingcam slots and mounted upon said guide plate to slide lengthwise thereof,signal operating elements consisting of rods having offset portionsprojecting through the slots of said operating plate adjacent thepivotal mounting thereof, said guide plate being tiltable upon its saidmounting to various positions in all of which it remains in an operativerelation'to said rods, and means for slidably moving said operatingplate to actuate said rods and thereby operate said signal elements.

4. A signaling device comprising a support, a guiding means upon saidsupport, a slide mounted to reciprocate along said guiding means, saidslide having two slots therethrough the length of said slots ex tendingin the same general direction as the direction of reciprocation of saidslide, two signal operating elements one of which is operatively relatedto one of said slots and the other of which is operatively related tothe other of said slots, one of said slow being arranged to actuate thesignal operating element which is operatively related thereto during oneportion of the movement of said slide and to maintain it stationaryduring the remaining portion of the movement of the slide While theother slot is arranged in a reverse relation to the signal operatingelement which extends therethrough in order that one signal operatingelement be maintained inoperative while the other signal operatingelement is operated, and a signal proper operated by each of said signaloperating elements.

5. A signaling device comprising a support, a guiding means upon saidsupport, a slide mounted to reciprocate along said guiding means, saidslide having two slots therethrough the length of said slots extendingin the same general direction as the direction of reciprocation of saidslide, two signal operating elements one of which is operatively relatedto .one of said slots and the other of which is operatively related tothe other of said slots, each of said slots having one of its endportions substantially straight and in alinement with the direction ofreciprocation of the slide and having its opposite end portion deflectedto act as a cam upon the signal operating element with which it isoperatively related, the straight and deflected portions of one of saidslots being reversely arranged to the corresponding portions of theother slot to provide for singly operating the signal elements.

6. A signaling device comprising a frame adapted to be attached to avehicle to display'a signal, said frame defining a signal display field,two signals proper adapted for being singly displayed upon said field,guiding meansextending across said field, said signals being mountedupon said guiding means to travel thereon to and from signalingposition, each of said signals proper having an operating arm, and areciprocatory member having two cam elements, one

of said cam elements being operatively related to one of said arms andthe other of said cam elements being operatively related to the otherarm, whereby said signals proper may be singly projected and withdrawninto said field from opposite sides thereof.

7. In a signaling device, a frame, a signal element movable to and from.signaling position, a pair of substantially parallel rods mounted uponsaid frame, said signal element being slidable along said rods, saidsignal element comprising a part having an aperture therethrough, anoperating lever projecting loosely through said aperture in a side-wisemanner, and means for swin ing said lever to operate said signalelement.

' 8. In a signaling device, a frame comprising a plate having a sightopening there through, a pair of substantially parallel rods mountedupon said frame at the rear side of said sight opening, one of said rodsbeing located adjacent one side of said sight opening and the other ofsaid rods being located adjacent to the opposite side of said sightopening, two signal elements slidably mounted upon said rods, one ofsaid elements being movable into said sight opening from one sidethereof and the other of said elements being movable into said sightopening from the other side thereof, and operating means for said signalelements construct ed and arranged to display them one at a time throughsaid sight opening.

9; In a signaling device, a frame defining a signal display field, apair of substantially parallel rods mounted adjacent to said field, asignal element consisting of a plate forming a signal proper displayablein said field, said plate having portions provided with aperturesthrough which said rods extend in order to guide the movements of saidsignal element, and operating means to reciprocate said signal. elementupon said rods to and from signaling position.

10. In a signaling device, the combination with a frame defining'asignal display field and a signal element movable into and out of saidfield; of operating means for said signal element, said operating meanscomprising an elongated guide plate mounted upon said frame, anoperating plate positioned flat-wise upon said uide plate to reciprocatetherealong, said guide plate having at one end a deflected portionhaving an aperture therethrough, an operating rod for operating saidplate, said rod extending slidably through said aperture, said operating plate having a cam slot extending there through, and means for movingsaid signal element, said moving means being operatively related to saidcam slot.

11. In a signaling device, a frame comprising a base plate, said framedefining a signal. display field, a signal element dicplayable in saidfield, guiding means for said signal element mounted upon said frame andpositioned to guide said signal element plate to reciprocatetransversely of said base plate, an operating lever pivotally mounted atthe opposite side of said base plate, one portion of said operatinglever being operatively connected with said signal element and anetl 1rportion thereof extending through the slot of said operating plate to beactuated thereby, and means to reciprocate said operating plate.

12in a signaling device for self-propelled vehicles, the combinationwith a support and two signal elements mounted there on for movement toand from a signaling position, of a member having cam slots therein,means operatively relating one of said signal elements with one of saidcam slots and the other of said signal elements with the other of saidcam slots, and means opcratively related to the steering mech anism ofthe vehicle to move said member hack and forth to singly operate saidsignal elements, the operating means for said signal elements beingrelated to said cam slots in such a manner as to provide a neutral Zonefor the operating means wherein slight turning movements of the vehiclewill not effect an operation of either of said signal elements.

13. in a signaling device, the combina tion with a support and twosignal ele ments mounted thereon for movement to and from a signalingposition, of a member having cam elements therein, means operativelyrelating one of said signal elements with one of said cam elements andthe other of said signal elements with the other of sait cam elements,and means to move said member back and forth to singly operate saidsignal elements, the operating means for said signal elements beingrelated to said cam elements in such a manner as to provide a neutralZone for the open igmeans wherein slight turning movements of thevehicle will not effect an operation'of either of said signal elements.

14. In a signaling device, a support, a guiding means upon said support,a slide mounted. to reciprocate lengthwise along said guiding means,said slide having two slots therethrough the length of said slotsextending in the same general direction as the length of said slide, t.vo signal operating elements one of which is operatively related to oneof said slots and the other of which is operatively related to the otherof said slots, each of said slots having one of its end portionssubstantially straight and in alinement with the length of the slide anddirection of reciprocation thereof and having its opposite end portiondeflected to act as a cam upon the signal operating element with whichit is operatively related, the deflected portions of one of said slotsbeing reversely arranged with relation to the corresponding deflectedportion of the other slot to provide for singly operating the signalelements, said signal operating elements. being related to thelongitudinally extending portions of said slots in such a manner that alimited reciprocation of the slide does not project either ml elementinto the signal disolay field w rereby a neutral zone is provided withrelation to the operation of the two signals in order that neithersignal be displayed by a slight turning movement of the vehicle, andmeans operatively connecting said slide with the steering means of thevehicle. I

15. In a turn indicating device attachable to a vehicle, a frame havinga signal display field, a signal element mounted upon said frame to moveinto and out of said field, a lever to actuate said signal element, aslide having a cam element which extends in a general way lengthwise ofsaid slide, an elongated guide for said slide, said guide beingpivotally supported between its ends and having a swinging adjustmentupon said frame, the aforementioned lever being swingingly mountedbetween its ends upon a pivotal support, said lever having a curvedportion which maintains an operative relation to the cam of said slide,said curved portion being curved along an arc substantially concentricwith the pivotal mounting of said guide, and means operatively re latedto the steering mechanism of the vehicle to reciprocate said slide.

16. In a turn indicating device attachable to a vehicle, a frame havinga signal display field, a signal element mounted upon said frame to moveinto and out of said field, a lever to actuate said signal element, aslide having a cam slot therethrough which extends in a general waylengthwise of said slide, an elongated guide for said slide, said guidebeing pivotally supported between its ends and having a swingingadjustment up on said frame, the aforementioned lever being swinginglymounted between its ends upon a pivotal support which extends atsubstantially a right angle to the pivotal support of said guide, saidlever having a curved portion which at all times extends through saidcam slot, said curved portion being curved along an are substantiallyconcentric with the pivotal mounting of said guide, and meansoperatively related to the steering mechanism of the vehicle toreciprocate said slide.

17. In a signaling device for vehicles, in combination, a signal elementmovable to and from a signaling position, means to operate said signalelement, said operating means comprising a member having a slotconsisting of two parts which meet each signature.

FRANK S. NAWROCKI.

